Hat-forming machine.



Ns. 649,995. Patented May 22, |900.

GjH. L. SYCHOONMAKEH J. A. CANFIELD.

HAT FOBMING MACHINE.

rApplicion med Nov. 21, 1899.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

'IIN' IIN' lill( (No Model.)

'lllhl WMM.

s INVENT''? wie? I w: Norms paens co, Pnmaurnc.. WASHINGTON. o. c,

. Patented May 22, i900.

G. H. L. SCHOONMAKER & J. A. CANFIELD'.

HAT FDRMING MACHINE. l

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1899.)

(Ho Model.)

H0. 649,995. l Patented -Hay 2,2, |900. G. H. L. scHonHMAKEH & J. A.cAHFHaLD.

` HAT FoHHmG MACHINE.

(Application led Nov. 21, 1899.) (N o M Q d a l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3,

ATTORNEY I IIH l WITNESSES:

No. 649,995. Patented May 22, |900. G. H. L. SCHUONMAKER & J. A.CANFIELD.

HATv FORMING MACHINE (Application mea Nov. 21, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4- (No Mpdel.)

INVENTORS jfa-6anm.

' ATTO NE UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE Il. L. SCIIOONMAKER AND JOI-IN A. CANFIEIAI), OF DANBURY,CONNECTICUT.

HAT-'FORIVIING MACHINE.

SEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 649,995, dated May 22,1900.

Application filed November 21,1899. Serial No. 737,787. (No model.)

county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-FormingMachines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exactv description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertainsgto make and use the same.

O ur invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hatforming machines, but more particularly has reference to automaticweighing-out mechanism used as an attachment to the hat-formingapparatus whereby the fur will be accurately weighed out and deliveredto the hat-forming instrumentalities.

The object of our invention is to improve upon the construction shownand described in ourpending application for Letters Patent, filed May 6,1899, under Serial No. 715,843, and we will now proceed to describe ourpresent invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this application, and in which- Figure l is a sideelevation of a portion of a hat-forming machine equipped with ourimprovement; Fig. 2, a view similarto Fig. l, but looking from theopposite side of the machine; Fig. 8, a vertical longitudinal section ofthe machine; Fig. 4, a broken side elevation of the forming-chamberproper and that portion of the frame immediately joining the same; Fig.5, a plan view of the broken construction shown at Fig. 4; Fig. 6,asection at the line :c .t of Fig. 3, showing only the upper part of themachine; Fig. 7, a detail broken sectional elevation of the magnet andarmature, and Fig. 8 a detail broken perspective illustrating one of thefur-carrying aprons.

Similar numbers and letters of reference denote like parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

In our pending application above referred to a predetermined weightrested upon the scale-beam near the pan, and as the pan de scended anelectrical circuit would be closed by contacts secured to the frame andto said weight, and this closing of the circuit would eflect thedisengagement of clutch mechanism for the purpose of stopping the feedfrom the large belt, and when the final Weighing had been completed fromthe smaller belt the closing of an electrical circuit by contactscarried by the scale-beam and the frame of the machine would effect thedisengagement of clutch mechanism, whereby the feed from the smallerbelt would be stopped, and then the operator would dump the pan. In ourpresent improvement We accomplish everything by mechanical contrivancesand employ electricity solely for the purpose of controlling theoperation of a certain pawl which has to do with the final feeding ofthe fur from the smaller belt, all of which will be hereinafter fullyset forth. v

In our present improve ment, which we have operated 011 a large scale inhat-factories, we have ascertained that the initial underweight of furis of the greatest importance in a machine of this character, and Wetherefore have retained the feature of the pivoted dog,which rests bygravity upon the scale-beam near the weighing-pan, the Weight of thisdog being predetermined so that when the scale-beam rst descends therewill be a short weight of fur substantially equal to the Weight of thisdog, and the final filling of the pan will consist in feeding thereinfrom the small belt an amount of fur to make up this deficiency. IVevhave also provided certain instrumentalities to be operated inconnection with the opening and closing of the doors of the hat-formingchamber, whereby there can be no feeding of fur into said chamber whenthe doors thereof are open, while the closing of the doors themselveswill restore all parts to normal position, so that the machine as anentirety will resume its functions; but in the present application Wemake no claim whatever to said instrumentalities, since they form thesubject-matter of a separate application for patent filed by us January30, 1900, under Serial No. 3,320.

1 is the frame of the machine; 2, the furdistributing chamber; 3, thehatforming chamber proper, which contains the usual support for theperforated cone and is provided with doors 4.

5 represents standards rising from the frame. 6 is the scale-beampivoted in any suitable manner between these standards and provided withan adjustable weight 7 at one end,

While the other end is yoke-shaped, and 8 is the weighing-pan, pivotedwithin the yoke end of the scale-beam and provided with a hinged bottom9, which is kept normally closed by means of springs 10, whose ends areconnected, respectively, with said bottom and with the scale-beam.

Immediately beneath the weighing-pan is an endless apron 1l, carried byrolls 12 13, and at the bottom of the fur-chamber 2 is also an endlessapron 14, carried by rolls 16.

At the outer end of the apron 11 are the usual feed-rolls 17 18, bymeans of which the fur from the belt is carried into the chamber 2, andimmediately beyond these rolls is a picker-roll 19, which operates inthe usual manner.

Immediately beyond the chamber 2 the furblowing chamber is located,which we have not shown, since it forms no part of our presentinvention; but we have shown an idle roll 19, which mats the fur as itleaves the apron 14, the feed-rolls 20 21, the picker-roll 22, and theblower-roll 23, all of which are contained within this fur-blowingchamber, which latter is intermediate of the chamber 2 and thehat-forming chamber 3.

The parts above described are all common and well known in connectionwith hat-forming machinery, and we have merely referred to them briefly,since it is not deemed necessary to enter into any detailed descriptionthereof, and we will now describe the parts that are more intimatelyassociated with the weighing-out devices.

24 isa hopper secured to the frame of the machine and at its upperextremity overhan ing the scale-pan and provided with doors 25, throughwhich the fur is introduced. Journaled Within this hopper, near the topand bottom thereof, and extending from side to side are shafts 26 27 andshafts 28 29, the

Y shafts 26 27 being coincident and held in position at their inner orabutting ends by a sleeve '30, while the shafts 28 29 are likewisecoincident and similarly held in position at their inner abutting ends,although the sleeve corresponding to the sleeve 30 is not shown in thisinstance. The shafts 2G 28 are provided with collars 31 32, while theshaft 27 is provided with collars 33, and theshaft 29 is likewiseprovided with collars. (Not shown.)

34 is an endless belt which is carried by the collars 31 32, and is alsoan endless belt carried by the collars on the shafts 2" 29, and it willbe readily understood that these belts are capable of independenttraveling, owingl to the independent nature of the shafts which carrythem.

Itwill be observed that the shafts 26 28 are considerably longer thanthe shafts 27 29 and that `the belt 34 is much wider than the belt 35,and therefore it will be clearly understood that a greater amount of furwithin a given time will be fed bythe belt 34 than by the belt 35.

On the outer extremities of lthe shafts 26 27 are loose pulleys 36 37,while tight on these shafts and close to said pulleys are ratchetwheels38 39. Tightly secured upon the outer extremities of a shaft 39,journaled in the sides of the hopper, are pulleys 40 41 and alsospur-gears 42 The pulleys 36 37 are normally engaged with the ratchets38 39 by any suitable frictional contrivance, such as ordinaryspring-cup washers s w, as shown at Fig. 6.

44 is a shaft which extends through the lower portion of the hopper fromside t0 side and carries gears 45 46 at each end, which mesh,respectively, with the gears 42 43, and said shaft also carries at eachond pulleys 47 48.

49 is the power-pulley, which is belted upto the pulley 48 through themedium of any suitable pulley 50,while the pulley 47 is belted up to thepulley 51, carried by the shaft of the usual paddle-picker 52, journaledin the top portion of the hopper in proximity to the front of the belts34 35 at the points where they pass over their upper rotary supports,this pulley 51 being' in turn belted to the pulley 53, which is carriedby the fan 54, journaled in the upper portion of the hopper in the rearof the belts. It will therefore be clearly understood that the beltswithin the hopper will be caused to travel to feed the fur and that anysurplus of the latter will be removed by the fan 54, while the paddlepicker 52 will knock off the fur from the belt, so that it will dropreadily into the weighing'- pan, and that these operations will all beeffected through the connections by means of the pulleys and beltshereinbefore described. The connections between the power-pulley and thepicker-rolls and between the powerpulley7 and the feed-rolls are veryordinary, and as these parts constitute no feature of our invention wewill enter into no further description of the same.

We will now describe the operation of the instrumentalities whichcontrol the delivery of the fur from the hopper within the weighing-panfrom both belts 34 35 until the pan descends with a shortage of weightsubstantially equal to the weight of the pivoted dog above referred to.

55 is a dog which is pivolcd to the side of .the hopper and whichnormally rests by gravity against the scale-beam in proximity to theweighing-pan, and 56 is a pawl pivoted to the side of the hopper andconnected with the tail end of this dog by means of a rod or wire 57.The normal position of this dog at the beginning of the weighingoperation is such that the pawl 56 will be held out of engagement withthe ratchet 38; but when the nose of the dog has dropped, owing to thelowering of the scale-pan, Ithe tail of this dog will be elevated, so asto throw the pawl 56 in engagement with the ratchet 38, so as to stopthe revolution of the latter. to have been delivered within theweighingpan of a shortage in weight substantially IOO IIO

Presupposing an amount of fur` f equal to the weight of the dog 55, thescalepan will now descend and the nose of the dog will by gravity followthe same until the elevation of the tail of said dog will have thrownthe pawl 56 into engagement with the ratchet 38, whereupon a resistancewill be opposed to the revolution of the pulley 3G sufficient toovercome the friction between it and the ratchet 38, so that said pulleywill revolve idly around the shaft 26, the result of this being that thewider belt 34, carried by the shafts 26 28, will become stationary. Asthe delivery of the fur into the weighing-pan from the smaller belt 35continues after the operation of the wider belt has ceased, thescalebeam will be relieved of the weight of the dog 55, owing to I[heengagement of the pawl 56 with the teeth of the ratchet 38, and thescale-beam will descend until an amount of fur equal to said shortagehas been deposited in said pan by means of the smaller belt, andsimultaneously with this final delivery of the fur the scale-beam willcome in contact with the pivoted finger 58, which is heaviest at itsouter end and is held in normal position by the upward abutment of itsforward end against thev pin 50, projecting from the side of the hopper.

An ordinary battery (denoted by 60) is suitably located and is connectedin proper circuit With a magnet 6l, the terminals of the circuit beingrespectively connected with the linger 58, whichA is insulated, and thescalebeam 6, which is likewise insulated.

A pawl 62 is pivoted loosely around a pin 63, projecting from the sideof the hopper, and a spring-projected armature (34 is pivoted inproximity to the poles of the magnet 6l and is provided at its extremitywith a` hook G5, which normally extends athwart and below the tail endof the pawl G2 when the latter is out of engagement with the ratchet 30,as clearly shown at Fig. 2.

GG represents counterbalanced bell-cranks pivoted loosely around pins G7at each side of the hopper, and G8 is a dog loose around the pin 63 andhaving a pin (39, which extends laterally above the nose of the pawl62,which pin is connected by means of a rod 70 to a stud c, whichextends within an elongated slot d, horizontally disposed within theupper leg of one of the bell-cranks GG, said stud capable of movingfreely throughout said slot, so that when said leg is depressed the dog68 will likewise be depressed, so that the pin 69 will strike againstthe pawl G2 and withdraw the latter from engagement with the ratchet 30,all of which will be more clearly understood from the descriptionhereinafter to be given.

7l represents bell-cranks pivoted at each side of the hopper aroundthepins 67, the upper legs of said bell-cranks extending above pins 72,which project from the bottom Q of the weigl1ing-pan,\vhile the lowerlegs of these bell-cranks have inclined portions 73.

74 is a dog loosely hung around the pivotpin of the pawl 56 and having apin 75, which extends laterally above the nose of said pawl and isconnected by means of a rod 76 to a stud e', which extends within anelongated slot f, horizontally disposed within the upper leg of theother bell-crank G6, said stud capable of moving freely throughout saidslot, so that when said leg is depressed the dog 74 will likewise bedepressed, so that the pin 75 will strike against the pawl 56 andwithdraw the latter from engagement with the ratchet 38.

77 is a shaft which extends through the hopper from side to side andcarries at each end crank-arms 78, this shaft also having rigid thereonat one end a worm-wheel 79, which meshes with a worm 80, carried byashaft 81, journaled in bearings at the side of the hopper. This shaft 81carries at one extremity a bevel-gear 82, which meshes with a bevel-gear83, carried by the hub of a spur-gear 84:, journaled at the side of thehopper and meshing with the spur-gear 4t2. As the shaft 77 revolves thecrank-arms 78 Will strike against the beveled portions 73 of thebell-cranks 7l, thereby causing the upper legs of these cranks tooperate to open the bottom of the weighing-pan against the resiliency ofthe springs 10. Just as these crank-arms are on the point of leaving thesurfaces 73 the lugs 85, (only one shown,) carried by the heel ends ofthe cranks, will strike against the lower legs of the bell-cranks 6G,thereby withdrawing the pawls 5G 62 from the respective ratchet-wheels38 30, and simultaneously the electrical lcircuit will be broken by theelevation of the scale-pan after dumping and the armature 64 will springout from the magnets and interpose its hook portion beneath the tail ofthe pawl 62, so that the latter cannot, owing to the gravity of its tailend, come into engagement with the ratchet 39.

The operation of our improvement is as follows: The fur is at firstdelivered into the weighingpan by means of both feeding-belts until thescale-pan descends by reason of the combined weight of the fur thereinand of the dog 55. As this dog swings on its pivot in following thedescent of the pan the pawl` 5G will be thrown into engagement with theratchet 38, thereby stopping the movement of the wide feedingbelt andrelieving the scale-beam from the weight of the dog. The subsequentfeeding of the fur will be effected by means of the smaller belt untilthe full weight of fur has been deposited within the weighing-pau,whereupon the latter will descend until the scale-beam strikes againstthe finger 58, and thereby closes theelectrical circuit and causes thearmature 64 to be attracted by the magnets, thereby removing the hookend 65 from beneath the pawl 62 and allowing the latter to engage bygravity with the ratchet 39, whereby the pulley 87 is caused to revolveloosely around the shaft 27, thereby stopping the movement of the smallfeedingbelt. strike against the inclined surfaces 73 and effect thedumping of the fur upon the apron The cranks 78 now.

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11, and as these cranks leave these inclines the bell-cranks 71 will berestored to normal position and the bottom of the Weighing-pan willclose and the scale-beam will rise, so that the pan may be elevated toreceive a fresh supply. At the proper moment after the pan has beendumped the lugs 85 will strike against the lower legs of the bell-cranks66, thereby causing the pawls 56 62 to be withdrawn from the ratchets 3839, and just before these lugs have finished their function theelectrical circuit will be broken by the elevation of the scale-beam andthe hook end of the armature 64 will spring beneath the tail end of thepawl 62, so as to hold the same in its position out of engagement withthe ratchet 39, and the operation of weighing out is again repeated inthe same manner.

A hat-forming machine equipped with our improvement has at one end theWeighing apparatus and at the other end the hat-forming chamber,provided with doors which the operator is continually opening andclosing, and it therefore is very essential that there should be nodelivery of the fur into the forming-chamber While the doors are open,and we have therefore shown in the drawings certain means automaticallyoperated by the opening and closing of these doors, whereby the feedingof the fur is stopped and continued at the proper times; but, as Weabove stated, this forms no part of the present invention and has beenmade the subject of another application for patent, which has beenspecifically referred to. However, for the purpose of enabling any oneto clearly understand that our present improvement in weighing apparatusdoes not interfere with the proper delivery of the fur to thehat-forming chamber We will describe the construction and operation ofthese parts referred to, which are intimately associated with theforming-chamber proper, although, as above stated, We make no claimthereto in the present instance.

86 is a reciprocatory slide-bar having therein an inclined slot S7, theextremities of this bar being loosely housed Within supports 88,extending from the frame of the machine. Connected to one end of theslide-bar by means of a universal joint is a rod S9, the other end ofthis rod being hinged to a rod 90, fastened to one of the doors of theformingchamber, so that it will be readily u nderstood that the openingand closing of these doors will effect the reciprocation of the slidebar86.

91 is a journal-box Whose lower extremity is pivoted at 92 to anyconvenient part of the frame, and 93 is a disk supported within thisjournal-box.

94 represents pins which extend through the j ournal-box into an annulargroove (shown only in dotted lines at Fig. 4) in the face of this diskso that it will be clear that said disk may revolve freely, but at thesame time will partake of movement parallel with its axis and caused bythe swinging of the journal-box upon its pivotal point.

95 is a shaft journaled at one enclin the frame of the machine, whilethe other end has a splined connection with the disk 93. 96 is a pulleyloose on this shaft 95, and 97 is a hub which projects from the innerface of the disk 93, the adjacent surfaces of this hubl and pulley beingconstructed in the usual manner com mon to friction-clutches, so thatWhen the hub is driven against the pulley the latter will be practicallyrigid with the shaft 95, While the disengagement of said hub and pulleywill cause this shaft to revolve, while the pulley itself will bestationary.

98 is a short shaft journaled at the side of the frame and carrying apulley 99 and also a gear 100, which latter meshes with a gear 101,carried by the shaft 95, so that it will be clear that motion can becommunicated tothe shaft 95 by the revolution of the pulley 99.

102 is a pin which projects Within the slide 87 and also Within theannular groove in the disk 93. The pulley 99 is belted up to thepower-shaft, while the pulley 96 is belted to the pulley 103, whichlatter is on the shaft of the upper feed-roll 20. It will therefore beclear that when the doors of the formingchamber are opened the slide-barwill be driven backward, thereby causing the splined disk to slide alongthe shaft 95, owing to the connections of the pin 102 with the inclinedslot S7 and the annular groove around the disk, thus disengaging the hub97 and pulley 96, and consequently stopping the movements of thefeed-rolls, so that the fur cannot be delivered into theforming-chamber. When the doors of this chamber are closed, the variousparts just described will operate to effect-the revolution of the pulley96, whereupon the feeding of the fur will be resumed.

Of course there are very many changes which can be made in the detailsof construction of our weighing apparatus proper, all of which arewithin the range of ordinary mescale-beam carrying a weighing-panbeneathV vloo IIS

the mouth of said hopper, Wide and narrow feed-belts carried byindependent rotary elements Within said hopper, the pivoted dog restingby gravity upon the scale-beam near said pan, and means operated by thefalling of said dog during the initial descent of the pan for stoppingthe movement of the wide belt and relieving the scale-beam of the weightof said dog, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fur-Weighing apparatus for a hatforming machine, the combinationof the pivoted scale-beam carrying at one end a Weighing-pan, the hopperhaving its mouth extending above said pan, the independent shaftsjournaled within said hopper, the wide and narrow feeding-belts carriedby said shafts, frictional devices through the medium of which saidshafts are revolved, the pivoted dog resting by gravity upon the end ofthe scale-beam near said pan, means operated by said dog for stoppingthe movement of the wide belt as the scale-pan descends by reason of theweight of the fur therein and of said dog, means operated b v the finaldescent of said pan for stopping the movement of the narrow belt, andmeans for automatically dumping said pan, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the hopper, the pivoted scale-beam carrying a panimmediately beneath the mouth of said hopper, the independent shafts 26,27, journaled at the top of the hopper, the independent shafts 28, 29,journaled at the bottom of said hopper, the wide and narrow feed-beltscarried by the shafts 26, 28, and 27, 29, respectively, the ratchetstight on the shafts 26, 27, the pulleys loosc upon said shafts andhaving frictional engagement therewith, means whereby said pulleys arerevolved, the pawls pivoted to the sides of the hopper in closeproximity to said ratchets, and means for throwing said pawls intoengagement with said ratchets at predetermined times, substantially asset forth.

et. The combination of the independent shafts which carry respectivelythe wide and narrow feed-belts, ratchets secured to said shafts, meansfor revolving said shafts through the medium of frictional devices, thepivoted scale-beam carrying the weighingpan at one extremity, the hopperwithin which the feeding-belts are contained, the pivot-ed pawls nearsaid ratchets, the pivoted dog resting by gravity on the scale-beam nearsaid pan and having its tail rigidly connected to the nose of one ofsaid pawls, whereby the initial descent of the scale-beam will causesaid pawl to be thrown into engagement with its adjacent ratchet therebystopping the movement of the wide belt, the pivoted and weighted fingerconnected in electrical circuit with the scale-beam, the magnet withinsaid circuit, and the spring-projected armature having a hooked endwhich normally extends beneath the tail of the other pawl when theelectrical circuit is open whereby when the circuit is closed by thefinal descent of the scale-beam into contact with said finger, saidarmature will be withdrawn from said pawl and the latter allowed to comeinto engagement with its adjacent ratchet thereby stopping the movementof the narrow belt, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the ratchets 38, 39, secured upon the independentshafts which carry the wide and narrow feed-belts, the pawls pivoted inproximity to said ratchets, the weighted bell-cranks pivoted to thesides of the hopper, the loosely-pivoted dogs having pins which extendathwart said pawls and are connected with the upper legs of saidbellcranks on each side of the hopper, and the rotary crank-arms 7Swhich operate against the v lower legs of said bell-cranks whereby saidpawls are withdrawn from engagement with said ratchets, substantially asset forth.

6. The combination of the pivoted scalebeam 4carrying the weighing-panat one end, the hinged bottom of said pan having project` ing pins, thesprings whereby said bottom is normally closed, the bell-cranks pivotedat each side of the hopper and having their upper legs extendedimmediately above said pins while their lower legs are provided withinclined portions, and the rotary crank-arms capable ofnstriking againstsaid inclined portions whereby the upper legs of the bell-cranks areoperated to open the bottom of the pan, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the independent shafts which carry respectivelywide and narrow feed-belts, the hopper within which said belts arecontained, the ratchets tight upon said shafts, the pawls pivoted inproximity to said ratchets, the loosely-pivoted dogs having pinsextending athwart said pawls, the pivoted bell-cranks whose upper legsare connected with said pins, the pivoted weighted iinger at one side ofthe hopper, the scalebeam connected in electrical circuit with saidfinger and carrying the weighing-pan, the hinged bottom of said panhaving laterallyextendingpins and normally closed bysprings, the pivotedbell-cranks having their upper legs extending immediately above saidpins while their lower legs are provided with inclined portions, themagnet in said electrical circuit, the spring-projected armature nearsaid, magnet and provided with a hook which extends beneath the heel ofone of said pawls when the electrical circuit is open, the pivoted dogresting by gravity upon the scale-beam near the pin and having its tailconnected with the nose of the other pawl, means for communicatingmotion through the medium of frictional devices to said shafts whichcarry said belts whereby when the scale-pan initially descends thedropping of the dog resting thereon will cause the pawl connectedtherewith to be thrown out of engagement with its ratchet therebystopping the movement of the wide belt and whereby when the scale-beamcomes in contact with said finger the armature will be withdrawn fromthe other pawl and the latter allowed to engage with its ratchet therebystopping the movement of the narrow belt, and the rotary crank-armswhich act successively against the lower legs of said bell-crankswhereby the bottom of the pan is opened and said pawls withrawn fromtheir ratchets preparatory to succeeding weighing operationssubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE H. L. SCHOONMAKER. JOHN A. CANFIELD.

Vitnesses:

WILLIAM: SonooNMAxiiR, EVA J. Bnooxs.

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